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STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2012

Clay Helps Dedicate Arlington Grove Mixed-Use Development in North St. Louis

Exceptional Project Puts $10 Million in Recovery Act Dollars to Work to Save Historic School, Transform  Wells-Goodfellow Neighborhood

ST. LOUIS, MO – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri joined with Friendly Temple Senior Pastor Michael Jones to dedicate the exciting new Arlington Grove Development in the Wells-Goodfellow Neighborhood in North St. Louis.  The $32 million project was funded in part by a $10 million Recovery Act grant awarded to the St. Louis Housing Authority.  Congressman Clay was a strong advocate for, and helped craft the Recovery Act. As a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, he made certain that affordable and sustainable housing efforts like Arlington Grove were included in the landmark legislation.

In his remarks at the dedication, the Congressman said, “It’s a pleasure to join with my good friend, Friendly Temple Senior Pastor Michael Jones, to celebrate this truly remarkable achievement. I’m especially proud of the Arlington Grove project because included in the $32 million funding package is a $10 million dollar competitive Recovery Act grant, \awarded by HUD, and administered through the St. Louis Housing Authority for projects just like this. To date…the Recovery Act has invested more than $5 billion dollars across the State of Missouri, including an over $400 million dollar direct federal investment right here in my congressional district.

The Congressman continued,“I also want to congratulate Mayor Francis Slay; Alderman Jeffrey Boyd; McCormack-Baron-Salazar; the St. Louis Housing Authority and KAI Design & Build for creating one of the greenest multi-unit developments in the country. This is one of the first federally supported multi-unit developments in the nation that will have solar panels and many other sustainable systems and materials included in the design. Besides the new construction, I am so pleased that we were able to save and reutilize the beautiful, historic Arlington School.  Finally, this is a real tribute to Pastor Jones and the members of his congregation who saw this project as an opportunity to spread Friendly Temple’s holy mission by changing lives and transforming this neighborhood.”